Election benchmark 3:
Counseling Services

We view psychosocial and social counseling services as an important part of a positive academic environment. The counseling services provided by the Studentenwerke play a key role in this regard. The goal is to further develop these services in line with needs and to ensure their long-term reliability. In doing so, the different needs of German and international students should be taken into account. Funding issues must also be addressed.

We believe that psychosocial care is not the responsibility of universities and colleges. We support psychosocial care as an integral pillar of the healthcare system.

We believe that expanding counseling services is both necessary and beneficial. Students need people they can turn to and immediate assistance in crisis situations—at universities, at student services organizations, and within the student body. Any additional responsibilities must, therefore, be funded by the state.

The need for psychosocial and social counseling for students has noticeably increased in the wake of societal changes and greater academic demands. The counseling services provided by the student services organizations must be able to keep pace with this need. In addition, low-threshold opportunities for social interaction and exchange are playing an increasingly important role.
The emergency loans provided by the student services organizations are an indispensable safety net for students facing short-term financial crises. To enable the student services organizations to fulfill these social responsibilities, their overall funding in the state budget must be increased.

When it comes to providing psychosocial services, the FDP advocates for adequate funding for local universities and colleges. The state will not plan in detail which specific services are currently needed at universities and colleges. The same applies to adjustments to teaching and the organization of campus life—wherever concrete measures can make students’ daily lives easier and alleviate stress, the state should not stand in the way. Beyond the university context, we want to create a local and accessible infrastructure for psychiatric care.

We will ensure that student services organizations can continue to fund psychosocial counseling. Students must have timely access to psychotherapeutic care, prevention, and crisis intervention. This also includes building resilience and preventing suicide. We support counseling, prevention, and education programs on mental illness to ensure access to care and reduce stigma. More psychotherapy slots covered by health insurance must be made available.

Students must receive the necessary support even when facing difficult life situations. That is why we are committed to providing easily accessible counseling and support services, as well as close collaboration between student services organizations, universities, and other support networks. Rapid access to counseling and support is particularly important in mental health crises. State-specific approaches should be adopted to avoid burdening municipalities that are home to higher education institutions with additional social spending.

See the answer to question a) at
(The AfD answered the questions in context.)

We want to support the student services organizations, universities, and student councils in strengthening their counseling services and making them even more visible on campus. The need is there; now the state must provide the financial backing to expand these services.

See the answer to question a) at
(The SPD answered the questions in context.)

See the answer to question a) at
(The FDP answered the related questions.)

We call for an expansion of counseling and support services for first-generation college students, students with a migration background, and students from low-income households. For further details, please refer to the answer to the previous question. We are expanding educational options such as part-time and distance learning so that students with family responsibilities, disabilities, or full-time jobs can study flexibly.

Counseling services must be easily accessible to students. This includes information that is easy to understand, short paths to access services, and the option to use these services both in person and online. These services should be tailored to students’ actual needs and regularly updated to ensure high quality and accessibility. Attention must be paid to multilingualism.

See the answer to question a) at
(The AfD answered the questions in context.)

We want to increase state funding so that we can maintain and expand our counseling services even as costs and wage increases rise. We will oppose any plans to cut the Studentenwerke’s budget and make it clear just how important these services already are.

See the answer to question a) at
(The SPD answered the questions in context.)

See the answer to question a) at
(The FDP answered the related questions.)

Through consistent investment in digitalization and the removal of physical barriers, we aim to make our counseling services more accessible and easier to use.